Apparatus for handling cloth blanks and the like



'3. E. MOLYNEUX Nw; mm2?. y 1,649,319

APPARATUS FOR HANDLTNG CLOTH BLANKS AND THE LIKE Original Filed Aug. 28. 1917 3 Sheets-5h89@ l No?. E5, E927. 1,349,39 G. E. MOLYNEUX APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CLOTH BLANHSv AND THE LIKE original Filed Aug. 2s. 1917 8 Sheetsheet 2 ,4f by Am "Affe/5 Nav. 15, 1927. 1,649,319 G. E. MOLYNEUX APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CLOTH BLANKs AND THE LIKE original Filed Aug. 28. 191'? 8 S'heetsheet 5 Nv. i5, 1927.

G. E. .MOLYNEUX APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CLOTHBLANKS AND THE LTKE Orizinal Filed Aug. 28. 191'7 8 Sheets-Sheetv 4 HIIHII HHHH Il HH H lU Nav. 15, 1927.

G. E. MOLY'NEUX APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CLOTH BLANKS AND THE LIKE von-minar Filed Aug. 2s. 1917 s sheets-sheet 5 Nov. 15, 1927.

G. E. MOLYNEUX APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CLOTH BLANKS AND THE LIKE- Original Filed Aug.- 28. 1917' 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. f5, 1927.

l G. E. MOLYNEUX APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CLOTH BLANKs AND THE LIKE originai Filed'Aug. 28. 1917 8 Sheets-Shea?) .'I

Nov. 15, 1927. y 1,649,31

G. Ea MOLYNEUX APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CLOTH BLANKS AND THE LIKE Original Filed Ang. 2s. 19m 8 Smets-sheet e INI/EN TUR thatithe same or lays the facing' them to the sewing mechanism.

raamt-renew.' is, isa?.

ioiiiiED STATES Grenen n. MoLYNnnx,

'onwaar CORPORATION, or JERSEY.

inane narrar carica.

F BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED HOE MA- i PATEBSON, NEW JERSEY, A COREORATON 0F NEW APFARATUS FOR HANDLING CLOTH BLANKS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed August 2S, 1917, Serial No. 188,589. Renewed September 1, i923..

ing the parts ot shoe linings of cloth or.

leather so that they may be assembled and secured together either by stitching' or by cementing or otherwise. lt is illustrated and P explained herein with -rct'erence to its embodiment in a mechanism for takingr from one containers halt of a cloth lining for a shoe and trom another container a 'facing strip, assembling the half lining and the facing strip in proper relation'and holding them in such relation during the operation ot the stitching' mechanism by which they are secured together. It will be obvious, however, similar units of mechanism might be employed for takinglr out of containers, assembling and stitchingr together' the two half linings or the complete lining and the topl facing. or any other parts of a shoe liningor of otherfarticles ot' a like general'nature. For the purpose ot further explaining' the nature ot' the invention. it

may be stated that. the usual procedure in sewing together t'or example, a half of a shoe liningr and its 'facing strip has been as tollows: The halt1 linings and the iacing` strips, previously bundles and delivered to the operator who is to stitch them together. The operator first countslthe number of half linings and the numberf ot facing strips to be sure that ,the proper'number of each has been delivered and then` facing strip v strip'u-pon the halic lining in a position as nearly correct as can be detel-, mined bythe eye alone and themsholding the two together with the fingers, passes Not only is considerable time consumed in these successive hand operations, but there is great liability of failure to place the facing strip upon the lining with the, required accuracy, or to hold the two in exact relation during .the stitching loperation. 4lt is the object of this inventio'rr` to provide apparatus by which to subsequent operacut out, are tied up in separate y taking a half lining and a I trom the respective bundles,l

all of these operations, heretofore usually performed by hand, can be performed autof matic-ally, not only with agreat saving in time but with absolute accuracy in eiiery instance. In the embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration the linings and facings or blanks are placed in the *appan ratus in suitable containers in which they are fed upward as the uppermost blank is removed. Vacuum fingers mounted upon a suitable carrier pick up the uppermost blank, a film of air being introduced between the topmost blank and the next below it for the purpose of freeing the topmost blank. The carrier then moves to a predetermined position where the blank -is released and,y clamped in position to be operated upon'` The'facing strip is picked up in the same manner vand is placed in. position on the liningr blank and is then clamped inposition in readiness to be stitched thereto. Blanks ofdilierent forms or other articles can be handled in like manner, with such adjustment or variation in details of the apparatus as may be necessary to meet the special requirements of each case.

ln the drawings, wherein is illustrated the chosen embodiment of the invention- Figure 1 is ai top View of the apparatus referred to, showing only a portion of the stitching mechanism which may be employed to operate en the blank.' Figure 2'is a View of the same in end elevation, as seen vfrom the left hand in Fignre l. f

Figure 3 is a View of the same in side eleM vation, as seen from the right hand in-liigure 2.

Figure 4 `is a top View' of a continuation of' the machine shown in Figure 1, showing particularly the stitchingi mechanism and some ot" the controlling devices.

Figure 5 is a View in side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 4 with the arm of the stitching mechanism broken oil?.

Figure 6 is a view of the stitching mechanism in' lvertical section. on a somewhat smaller scale than that of Figures 4 and. 5.

Figure? is a partial View inv end eleva tion of the mechanism shown in ,Fig-ure 5, as' seen from'the right hand in said ligure.

Figure 8 -is a ydetail view-Linthorizontal section oilthe feed mechanism `furthe blanks.

' CilA Figur-'e Sis' afdetaiiyiew in vertical sec- @am h," on the main shaft f. Whenltdie ear` rier gV is rocked 0n the sliaft gto bring;r the piek-up fingers L down uilen tle topmost blank 1n the container, the 'valve ft2 is opened by the cam h6 andis held open during the rocking of the carrier to liftiztbe blank, the longitudinal movement of the carrier to transport the blank and the rocking of the carrier todeposit the blank. The blank is therefore held by the piek-up ngers during these movements. 1When,however, the blank is deposited in place the earn h permits the valve to be 'closed by its spring h5, thereby cutting oil' the communication with the vacuum system and permitting; the blank to be released from the piek-up lingers.

In the handling of comparatively thin and flexible articles, like thep'arts of a shoe, it

is desirable to facilitate the-'separation or' the topmost blank or article, then engaged by the pick-up ngers, from the blank or article next below it. This 'is conveniently eeeted by the introduction of a film or eir between the topmost blank end the next blenk below it. When e article to be handled is of such a natur..

objectionable, such as e part of a cloth lining 4for a shoe, the hn of air to release the top- 'most blank may be introduced through the blank itself, but ii the article is of such a nature that puneturing is "undesirable, the film of air may be introduced from the edge. The piek-up'ngers' are' shown in `Figures 2, 3 and ll as adapted for the introduction of lair through the topmost blank. Each terminal his provided near its lower end Witlr easing or header 7c which is armed on its underside with hollenT needle points or pointed tubes 7e which'- project below the lower end of the terminal .7L just far enough vto penetrate through the topmost blank. Each casing or header lc is connected 'tln'ougrh tubing k2 with a valve 7c3 and with a source or air under pressure represented 'by the pipe cl., The Valver k3 is spring actuated to open, as indicated at fc5. and is actuated to elose'by a cam lo on the main she-ft f. When the piekfup linger 71. is brought down upon the,` topmost blank the valve 7e3 is opened so that as the piek-up linger is Vbrought in Contact with the topmost blank air sgadmitted et the saine time between the 'topmost blank and the .next one below it. The vsupply ofy air -inaythen be out oft by the elosing of the valve, which may remainclosed until the pick-up finger is again that small perforations are not.

brought into Contact with the topinosl blank for the purpose' of picking; 1t up. A

lf 1t is undesirable to puncture the article in order to permit the air to be introduced through it into the space between it and the next one below, the fihn ot air maybe iin' (reduced between the two at the edge, indicated in Figures El and l0. As' there shown, the wall of the container may be pro vided, at :l distance below its upper edge substantially equa-l to the tliicknessoi each blank or article, with a. series of smell oriiees k7 which communicate with an external header las which, in turn, is lconnected /eg with the air tube lez. ln this arrangement, the air, admitted by the opening oli the valve kaat the proper time, flows from the edge between the topmost blank and the next one and facilitates the separation ot 'the topmost blank Without liability either of picking up the next blankor of pullingr the topnxost blank away troni the pick-up lingers.

Thus far it has been assumed that there yis but one blank to4 be halidled, es mig-ht indeed be the ease, but the apparatus shown is designed for the handling not only of a half lining for a shoe but of the facing strip which is to be secured in proper position to the half lininf.

Reference has already been made to these facing stri-ps c in the container c5. Thebiekup lingers m shown in Figures l and 2 are constructed inthe same mannervus tbe. pick` up lingers .k alreadv described, and are eonnected by flexible tdbing' m with the Vacuum tube ft", under the control of the valve lz?. They are also provided with headers k1" and hollow -ends 7611 and are Connected through flexible tubing k12 and a spring opened Valve A 7013 Withthe com Dressed air svstem 21:4. the

i l valve 7:3 being opened and closed at proper tunes 'for the handling of the blank.

s the facing strip must have a inoifeinent y independent of the halt lining, so aste be suoeriinaesed thereon the )ick-u Jllnecrs m,

.l l 7 n which engages a cam groove in the face of te cam dise mm: The earns mf? and m1 ere 'mounted on a shaft m11 supported in the arms gli and in a sleeve m12 which is mounted with freedom for rotation in an arm m9* secured to the sila-fbg]V so es to oseillate there witl. 'The shaft m is onneetecl Witlrlthe sleeve m12. by a key so as to 'rotate therewith While being free to slide ,longltnclinelly Cal through the same and the sleeve is operativelyv connected through a chain wheel mi* and chain m with a chain wheel m1 on the shaft ff The `gearingot the shaft mland the several cams and their connections are so related llnzt just belore the pick-up lingers/1J lil't the topmost blank n from the container fi. the pit-leap lingers m. will be caused by the cams y/n` and links mi to swing about'the pivotal axis m7' ol the arm extensions m", so as to lil't the topmost blank e from the couhainer 'l`herea'l'ter the slide blocks m2 will be moved h'v the cams mm and links m" to draw the pick-up lingers m toward the pick-up lingers I. lilventually the cams fm will operate again to cause the blank c to be laid upon the blank a. Meanwhile the ear rier ,r/ rocked so as to lift the pick-up tina'ers /i as well as the pick-up fingers m, and is then moved longitudinally to transport both blanks tog'elhertownrd the right hand portion ot the machine shown in Fie'- ure l, and eventually rocked again to deposit', the two blanks together upon the work table n, where the next operation, what ever it may be, is to be performed upon the blanks so deposited. which is, in this case. the sewing' of the facing strip on the half lining. During' this operation it is desirable that the blanks be ,clamped lirmly in position and for this purpos1 are provided the clamps 0 and 0 which, with their operating' mechanism. are shown in "Figures l. 2 and 3. The clamping' arms o are extended down- 'ard through the work table la. and are pivotallv mounted on the underside of the same. each clamp arm having extended therefrom on the other side ot' its pivot an arm o`-`. The latter is engaged by a` correspendingforked arm o lixed on a shaft o"`r which is mounted in v.suitable brackets 0*. An arm o lixed 0n the shaft 0 carries a pin o7 which engages a cam groove in a face cam o"a on the shaft j'.

The clamp arms 0 are likewise extended through the work table 1L and pivotally mounted on the underside thereof. each having' an extended arm o which is engaged by a correspomliimY 'forked arm o1" on'a shaft ol. An arm 012 tixed to the shaft o is connet-,ted bj a link o" with the arm 02, so that the two sit'les ot' the clamp arms 0 and 0 ax'e ope 'ated together.

When the blanks are being pieked'up and transported to the work table the clamp arms' are swung back out ot the way, but when the blanks'have been deposited on the work table the-clamp arms are swung forward to hold the blanks firmly in position on the work table, with the facing strip in position on the half lining, in readiness for the next operation.

So far as the handling or placing of the blanks is concerned, the precise nature of thev -tion ot' the handling' or placing appartus and a part ot thel same machine, being subject also to automatic control by the blanks handled and beincr stopped when thefs'nppl)Y of blanks is exhausted. 'l`he main shaft f, through gears f3. receives motion from a driving shaft f which is provided with'a fast' pulle.\v and a loose pulley /f Through a skew `L'ear ff and a corresponding gear f*` it drives a Arrooved face ram f which. through a cri-operating lever f1, 'forked fl. produces the longitudinal. reciprocating' traverse of a slide block p. the slide block being provided with a linger yf engaged b v the tork fl of the lever fm. )lounted upon the slide block p. so as to swing' 'freely thereon about a vertical axis. is the usual arm 7:2 of a sewing' machine. in which is mounted the usual needle bar 7.). with its actuating mechanism. aml the presser y".

The lower' horizontal arm carries the usual looper mechanism 71"'. with its actuating devices,y and is provided at its end with a stud or roller pl adapted to travel in the slot 11. in the work table n. This slot conforms to the line on which the stitching ol' the facing' strip to the linine' is to be done and theret'pre compels the needle of the Sew ing mechanism, to follow the desired line as the sewing' mechanism is transversed to and fro in the guido way y formed in the table g.

As the sewinglV mechanism swings about a vertical axis its driving shaft 9- is arranged vertically in the same. axis. transmittingr motion through gears r tothe main shaft p of the sewing' mechanism. The shaft r receives its motion through bevel gears r2, r3. the latter having,r a grooved hub 7'* engaged by a fork r which is secured to the slide. block p. The gear .r3 is keyed on its shaft r so as to slide thereoi-i, to accommodate the movements ot' the sewing head while turning therewith. The shaft 9' is driven from the shaft. f" by a suitable transmitting mechanism, such as a cord and pulleys, indicated at TT, an electromagnetic. clutch rs, of usual construction, preferably being interposed in the driving mechanism.

To effect the automatic stopping' of the whole machine, including the handlingr appaaratus as well as the sewing mechanism when tjhe supply of blanks is exhausted, a

llt)

rese,

beltshipping mechanism Inay be providedv as shown particularly in Figures 4, 5 and 7.

The belt shippincf lever s, pivoted at c',

therewith, but may move longitudinally thereon against the spring s3. Mounted looselyr on the shaft sit-With the sleeve s2 is a Second .sleeve s6, held fromy longitudinal movement to the left, formed with cem teeth." e7 to correspond to the cam'teeth s4 of the sleeve s2 and provided also with radially pros ject-ing lugs s. llhe sleeve s is carried by a chain Wheel s, driven by s chain 81 from ef" chain 'Wheel s of the shaft f. An electromagnet i', connected on one side to thesource of electricity and to the terminal o and on the other side te the bottom b2 or the conminer has armature mounted on a swinging stop' t?. l/Vhen the last blank e lies been taken from the container b end the projection 7012 of the bottom b2 makes Contact with the terminal 513, the magnet t is energizerl ond the stop t2 is swung into the path of the radial lugs sa on the sleeve s6, thereby ng; the rotation oi the sleeve ss. As sleeve cannot move longitudinally sind the sleeve e?, while free to more longitudinally against the pressure oaf the spring,A is keyed en the shst s? so es 'to rotate thereuuL-h, the. stopping of the sleeve s compels movement of the sleeve et to the right;l and the shifting ol the belt from 'the test pulley to the loose pulley, thereby' bringing the entire nieelinnisin to rest.

lt 'will be che vcd thet the mechanism is y capable eti? adjustment to snit clizli'erlses and shapes of blenlss and that con- Hiners el? different sizes and shapes, to suit Y erent blanks, may be substituted, one/for another, in the ,sa-me machine or shifted in ition accor-aline to the curvature of the lo bestitr-heo. z lis has .been indicated hereinbefore, the handling apparatus is capable ot application lo handling; o nanny ditl'elent articles` and muy hc varied in details ot' construction and v arrangement to suit Varied conditions o use withoutdeparting from the spiritJ of the invention so liar as the same is covered by the claims.

Certain features of the machine herein disclos d. and not claimed form the subject matter et' ye divisional'application filed September Mi, 1921, SeriaLNo. 5Ql,125.

l as my invention:

l. ln an apparatus of the character described., thc combination of means for supporting; a number of articles one upon the other, .fr piclcup finger .to engage the topmost article, means to move the finger with vthe article in a! direction substantially'at` a right the plane of the sie article and means to 'introduce air between the topmost article and the next at a point Within the edges thereof to 'form a lilni be- Y tvveen the topmost article andthe next in the vicinity of the piclrup'finger and substan- 7o tially cti-extensive with the article. 2. ln an apparatus of the character den scribed, the combination of a container for articles placed one upon another', a plunger to support the articles, means to more th f5 plunger with a step-by-step movement, a "Joli-np finger to engage the topmcst article.

' meansto move the finger with the article en-I gaged in' e direction substantially at e richt angle to the plane of the article` and ineens il@ 'to introduce air between the topmcst `article and the next-et a. point Within theV edges thereof to forni a film between the topniost article and' the next in the vicinity or' the pick-u J linger and substantially co-extensive S5 with the article.

3.. lfn an apparatus of the character described, the combination of e pick-up linger, means to move the linger to and away freni the pile of articles to be handled, a header 9g carried with the pickup finger and provided with hollow needle points to penetrate through the topmost article and a connection from seid header to u source of air under pressure. 'Y

el. ln enapparat11s ol the character de scribed, the combination .of a vacuum pickup lincer, a connection therefrom to vacu um system, a valve to control the connection to the vacuum system, means to move finw@ ger with the article engaged in a direction substantially at a right angle the plane of the -article, means to introduce air between the topmost article and the next at e point Within the edges 'thereof to form o film be- 105 tween the topmost article and the next in the, vicinity of the pick-up linger and substam, tially cca-extensive with the article, e comico` tion from Vsaid means to a suroce of nir un; der pressnre,.a valve to controlseid last ll@ named connection end a com shaft 'with cams to control ifhe opening and closing of said valve.

5. In an,` apparatus. of the character de scribed, the combination oa vacuum pick- 115 up linger, a. header carried by the vacuum` ringer near its terminal sndvprovided with bollos7 needle points, a connection. from the pick-up linger to a vacuum system and connection from the header to a. source of air i2@ ,underpressurd whereby air may be introduced between the topmostnorticle and the next. Y

6. ln un' 'apparatus of the character described, the combination of a Vacuum piclr- 125 up nger, 'a header-.carried by the vacuum' linger near its terminal and provided with hollow needle points, a connection from the Apickup finger to a vacuum system, connections from the header to a source or air un- 13e dei" pressure. whereby air may be introduced between the topmost article and the next, and a carrier for said pick-up finger t0 move ,the pick-up finger to and from the article and t0 trans].mrt it.

7. ln an apparatus of the character defl scribed, the combination of means for snpperting a stack of blanks, a pick-up linger to engage the topmost blank, and means lo introduce a blast of air through the t0pmost blank to form a film between it and the article beneath it.

8. In an apparatus of the character de- 

